Single-tube pneumatic-dispatch unit



' J. J. STOETZEL SINGLE TUBE PNEUMATIC DISPATCH UNIT A ril 26, 1921. 1,626,214

Filed June 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y mmwf ATTORNE Iii) Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED A STATES PATENT ()F' FICE;

JOSEPH J. 'STOETZEI OF QUEENS VILLAGE, NEVT ZYORK, .ASSIG-NOR 'IO G.p& G. ATLAS SYSTEMS, INC., F nnwiYon-x, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. r

SINGLE-TUBE PNEUMATIC-DISPATCH UNIT.

Application filed June 9,

This-invention relates to pneumatic dis-r patch apparatus of the type in which carriers are dispatched in either direction over a single line oi tubing.

A'gencral object of. the invention is to provide a singletube pneumaticv dispatch line apparatus in which .a powersaving minimum flow of air through the transmission lines-is provided between carrier moving operation; The inventionuincludesthe provision of an air circuit or loop between the central station and each outlying station; t 1e circuit including :the transmissionline and a conduithused solely to complete the air circuit.

The invention includes means fo'rprocucing a flow of air through the circuit referred to in either direction,- means bein provided in connectioawith the minimum air flow controlling means for automatically producing a full carrier-impelling flow of air in one direction when a carrier is inserted in the transmission line. The samemea'ns is employed to. automatically shutoff the'carrierimpelling flow of air when the carrier emerges at either end of theline.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a manually operable-device for causing; a carrier-impelling flow of air to traverse the'circuit or loop in the opposite directiom-timing means being asso ciated with the manually operable device for reestablishing-the condition wherein the transmission lineis-adapted to convey carriersin the opposite direction upon the in sertion of a carrier in' the opposite end of the line.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter referred to.

Referring to the drawings fora more de-- tailed description of the invention Fig.1 is a diagrammatic View of an oper ating unit 'oia pneumatic dispatch system, embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 isa view in vertical section-o1 con-' trolling devices used in connection withtlie dispatch apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawingsfor a more detailed description of the invention, in. Fig. 1 a pneumatic dispatch installationis'shown which includes a central station A,= an outlying s-tatiOnBQa connecting carrier transmission line 5, a source-of exhaust 6 and an air condu t-7 connecting the central stat on- 1926. Serial N0. 1143651.

with :theoutlying. end of the transmission line Controlling apparatus is shown generally at? atthe central station A for producing theoperating effects hereinafter referred to. The controlling. apparatus includes a valve member-8 operating in a chamber 9 to control the direction of How ofair through the carrier transmission line into the source of exhaust 6.

In thenormal position of the valve 8 such asls shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, a munmum flow ofair is maintained through the transmission line 5 from the outlying end thereof at station B through the conduit 16 into thevchamber 9 and thence through the pipe 11,'through the restricted annular opening 12 between a control valve 13 and its seat l ljand thence-through the pipe 15 to the source of exhaust 6. The air supply for the flow thus described enters the chamber 9 fromatmosphere by way of the :port '16 and thence flows thr ugh the air conduit 7 to the-outlying end of the transmission line 5 at station-B'where it enters the transmission line at'the connection 17 "of the air conduit -7 with the outlying' terminal of the carrier line-5."- H

VVit'h this condition of the apparatus, the insertion of a carrier byway of the gate 18 at station B into the carrier line 5 immediately producesa blocking or restricting efmeritbyway of theport 26;- The move ment of the diaphragm 24 to its right hand posit1on-moves--thevalve member '13 to openedposition against the pressure of the spring 27;- The t'ull flow of air is thereby established by the connection thus produced between the transmission line 5 at station A "andthe: source of vacuum-6. The carrier-us accordingly mpelled through the transniiission line and is discharged at station A by way of the gate member 28.

The release of the vacuum or suction eti ect produced when the carrier emerges from the transmission line at station A results in the movement or" the diaphragm 24L to its left hand position shown in Fig. 2 through the action of the spring 27 which thereby again moves the valve member to its minimum flow or closed position, as shown in this figure, thereby again establishing the normal condition which obtained before the carrier was inserted in the transmission line at station B.

In order to transmit a carrier through the carrier line 5 from the central station A to the outlying station E, a carrier is inserted in the end of the line at station A by way of the gate 28. A manually operable valve control member 30 is thereupon actuated to remove a closure disc 31 from its seat on the end of a tubular member 32, a spring member 33 acting to immediately restore the disc 31 to its closing relation with the end of the tubular member 32 when the member 30 is released. The opening of the closure disc 31 permits air to enter the tubular member 32 and pass through the pipe 33 into a cylinder 3 1 in which a piston member 35 is adapted to reciprocate. The pipe 33 enters the upper end of the cylinder 34L whereas the lower end or part beneath the piston 35 is connected by way of a conduit 36 with the source of vacuum existing in the pipe connection'15.

The connection of the upper end of the cylinder 34 with atmosphere permits the suction applied beneath the piston 35 through the connection 36 to move the piston 35 downwardly against the pressure of a spring 37. The downward movement of the piston 35 carries with it the stem 38 and removes from closing relation with a port 39 a closing disc 40, thereby connecting the compartment 41 of a diaphragm chamber42 with atmosphere. The compartment 43 at the other side of the diaphragm ist in the chamber 42 is connected by way of a pipe 45 with the source of vacuum in the pipe 15 already referred to. The result of opening the compartment 41 beneath the diaphragm li to atmosphere is to permit the source of exhaust in the pipe 45 to be applied to lift the diaphragm 44 against the pressure of the spring 46.

The upward movement of the diaphragm it carries with it the stem 47 which is connected through a link 48 with a crank arm 4C9 connected to the shaft 50 of the con trol valve 8 already referred to. The lifting of the stem 47 rotates the valve 8 to its other or reverse position. thereby reversing the direction of flow of air through the carrier transmission line 5 in the following manner. In the new position 0t thevalve 8 a flow of air, instead of entering the valve chamber from atmosphere travels upwardly through the pipe 10 to the transmission line at station A and thence through the line to station Ii whence the air returns through the air conduit 7, as already described.

It will be seen that with the reversal of position of the valve 8 and the reversal of 'the direction or flow of the air through transmission line 5, the insertion of a carrier in the line 5 at station A again produces the restricting etl'ect already referred to and brings about the automatic opening of the valve 13 in the manner already described. The flow of air thus established through the transmission line 5 from central station A to outlying station B is accomplished practically instantaneously and the carrier is immediately started on its journey through the line to station B. The emergence or discharge of the carrier at station E again establishes in the valve chamber 23 and connected compartment 19 of the diaphragm chamber 20 the release or break in vacuum which permits the spring 27 to move the valve 13 to its closing position whereupon a minimum flow of air is again established in the transmission line 5 but in a contrary direction to that previously described.

In order to again restore the normal condition of the apparatus which, as already stated, is that shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, with the control valve 8 in the position shown therein, a timing device is employed which includes the cylinder34and its contained piston 35 already referred to. In addition, the cylinder 34 is provided with a control passageway 51 connected at its' lower end with a port 52 leading to the compartment beneath the piston 35 and at its upper end through a port 53, whose size can be regluated by the adjusting screw 5st, to the compartment above the piston 35. \Vith this construction and with the closure disc 31 of the control valve device in its closed position, the eftect of the exhaust applied tl'n'ough the pipe 36 is to establish pressure conditions of the same value on opposite sides of the piston 35, thereby per i'nittingthe spring 3'? to lift the valve to its elevated position in which the disc 40 is moved into closing relation to the port39. The period of time required to bring about this operation is predetermined and is regulated by means of the screw 54: to take place just following the period of time taken for a carrier to travel through the tube from station A to station B. r

The closing ot the port 39 again estabhshes identical pressure conditions on oppo site sides of the diaphragm 44 by means'of' a controlled port 55" which providesacommunicating passage between the upper and lower faces of the diaphragm 44. This condition permits the spring l6 to move the stem 4-7 downwardly to swing the valve 8 to its normal position shown in Fig. 2, thereby establishing the normal condition of the apparatus referred to.

The single tube carrier line through which carriers are transmitted in opposite directions, which is thus provided, affords a useful and economical installation in cases where carrier lines of large .and unusual cross sections are employed, suchas the oval section lines having in somecases a thickness of three inches and a width'ot six inches. 7 which is employed may be of lesser dimensions and in the form of standard circular tubing, thereby providingan installation at a relatively low cost.

hat I claim is:

1. In a pneumatic dispatch apparatus, a carrier-transmitting line, a vacuum-producing device, means for connecting the vacuum-producing device to either end 01": the carrier-transmitting line I to thereby cause carriers to travel through the line in either direction, and means for establishing a minimum flow of air through the line between carrier-impelling operations.

2. In a pneumatic dispatch apparatus, a carrier-transmitting line, a vacuum-produo ing device adapted to be connected to one end of the carrier-transmitting line, an air conduit adapted to connect the vacuum-producing device and the other end of the carrier-transmitting line, means for connectingthe vacuum-producing means to either the air conduit or the carrier-transmitting line to thereby cause carriers to travel through the transmitting line in either direction, and means for establishing a minimum flow of air through the transmission line toward the end of the line to which the vacuum-producing device is connected between carrier-impelling operations.

3. In a pneumatic dispatch apparatus, a carrier-transmitting line, a vacuum-producing device, means for connecting the vacuum-producing device to either end of the carrier transmitting line to thereby cause carriers to travel through the line in either direction, and means responsive to the insertion of a carrier in one end of the tube for establishing a carrier-propelling flow of air in the tube, said means being responsive to the break in vacuum produced when the carrier is discharged from the other end of the tube for cutting off the carrier-propelling flow of air.

t. In a pneumatic dispatch apparatus, a carrier-transmitting line, a vacuum-producing device, means for connecting the vacuiun-producing device to either end of the carrier-transmitting line to thereby cause In such cases thesair conduit line carriers to travel through the linein either direction, and a control device responsive to the insertion of a .carrier in one end of the tube for establishing a carrier-propelling flow of air in the tube, said control device being responsive to the break in vacuum produced when the, carrier is discharged from. the other end of the tube for cutting off the carrier-propelling flow ot' air and establish ing a minimum flow of air through the line.

5. In a pneumatic dispatch apparatus, a 'arrieretransmitting line, a vacuum-producing device, valve means for connecting the vacuum-producing device to either end of he carrier-transmitting line to thereby cause carriers to travel through the, line in.

either direction, a control device responsive to the insert on of a carrier in one end of the tube for establishing a carrier-propellingflow of air in the tube, said control device heing responsive to the. break in vacuum produced when the carrier is discharged from the other end of the line for cutting oft the carrier-propelling flow of airthrough the line and manually operable means for causing the actuation of said valve'meansto bring about a carrier-propelling flow of air through the transmitting line in the opposite direction.

6. In a pneumatic dispatch apparatus, a carrier-transmitting line, a vacuum-producing device, valve means for connecting the vacuum-producing device to either end of the carrier-transmitting line to thereby cause carriers to travel through the line in either direction, a control device responsive to the insertion of a carrier in one end 01 the tube for establishing a carrier-propelling flow of air in the tube, said control device being responsive to the break in vacuum produced when the carrier is discharged from the other end of the line for cutting oft the carrier-propelling flow of air and establishing a minimum flow of air through the line, and manually operable means for causing the actuation of said valve means to bring about a carrier-propelling flow of air through the transmitting line in the opposite direction.

7. In a pneumatic dispatch apparatus, a carrier-transmitting line, a vacumn-producing device, valve means for connecting the vacuum-producing device to either end of the carrier-transmitting line to thereby cause carriers to travel through the line in either direction, a control device responsive to the insertion of a carrier in one end of the tube for establishing a carrienpropelling flow of air in the line, said control device being re sponsive to the break in vacuum produced when the carrier is discharged from the other end of the line for cutting oil the carrier-propelling flow of air and establishing a minimum flow of air through the line, manually operable means for causing the actuation of said valve means to bring about irl l a carrier-propelling flow of air through the transmitting line in the opposite direction, and timing means operating to reverse the position of the valve means after a predetermined interval of time.

8. In a pneumatic dispatch apparatus, a carrier-transmitting line, a vacuum-produd ing device, valve means for connecting the vacuumproducing device to either end of the carrier-transmitting line to t ereby 'iers to travel through the line in either direction, a control device responsive to the insertion of a carrier in one end of the line for establishing a carrier-propelling flow of air in the line, said control device l cing responsive to the break in vacuum produced When the carrier is discharged from the other end of the line for cutting off the carrier-propelling flow of air and establish ing a minimum flow of air through the line" manually operable means for causing t e actuation of said valve means to bring about a cari'ienpropelling flow or. air through the transmitting line in the opposite direction, and said control device operating to cut oti the carrier-propelling flow of air in said opposite direction and to establish a minimum How of air through the line when a carrier is discharged from the line.

9. In a pneumatic dispatch apparatus, a carrier-transniitting line, a ing device, valve means tor connecting the vacuum-producing device to either end of the carrier-transmitting line to thereby cause carriers to travel through the line in either direction, a control device responsive,to the insertion of a carrier in one end of the line for establishing a carrier-propelling flow acuum-producof air in the line, said control device being said control device operating to cut oif the car- V rier-propelling flow of air in said opposite direction and to establish a minimum flow of air through the line When a carrier is discharged from the line, and timing means operating to reverse the position. of the valve means after a predetermined interval of time.

JOSEPH J. sronrznn 

